Retro Ad Retro Ad Volume 1, Issue 2 Spring 2012 Insert Coin Editor-In-Chief 6 Rob Maerz Letters 8 Copy Editor Reset 9 Franka C. Maerz Retrocharts 12 Contributors Michael Allard Retroboards 13 Mark Alpiger Scoreboards 29 Jasper Alto Kevin Armstrong Event Coverage: MAGFest X 32 Eric Bailey Daniel Castaneda #GameChanger2012 36 Matt Daws British Backtrack with Mike James 39 Catherine DeSpira Forrest Hodges Spega 42 Mike James Mike Kennedy My View (of Classic Arcade Gaming…the Hobby) 47 Christian Matozzo 48 Elena García Méndez Emulation Nation Robert T Mruczek 50 Will Nicholes Strategy Session: Pepper II (Arcade) Patrick Scott Patterson 53 Strategy Session: Super Cobra (Arcade) Scott Schreiber Jeff Spega Cleaning Junior VectrexMad! 61 Michael Allard takes you through cleaning that dirty old 2600 Junior Brett Weiss Indy 500 Tournament 70 Cover Illustration Troy Stanwyck Invite your friends and fire up those consoles for some Indy 500 action! Batari Basic 72 Atari VCS programming tips from Forrest Hodges Cover Story: Attack of the Homebrews! A homebrew tsunami hit the classic gaming community in the fourth quarter of 2011. We have some of the Retrocade Magazine hottest titles reviewed and ISSN 2165-0330 we announce the first 74 Braumeister Award winner © 2011 RetrocadeMagazine.com. All rights reserved for homebrew of the year! A Conversation with Carla Meninsky 121 Will Nicholes interviews former Atari programmer Carla Meninsky Jay Smith: An Engineer’s Engineer 127 A transcription of Retrogaming Roundup’s interview with the man behind the Microvision Mark Alpiger 130 The gloved one talks about tournaments, the King of Kong, high scores and vegetables Interview with Ted Dabney A transcription of Retrogaming Roundup’s conversation with one of Atari’s founding 136 fathers Reinvestigating Polybius Catherine DeSpira investigates the Urban Legend of Polybius. Discover what she found that challenges 141 anything else you've ever read about it! Barcade 149 An interview with Barcade co-owner Paul Kermizian and photos of their Philadelphia location Avalanche of Fun: Here Come the Snow Bros. 156 An in-depth review of this NES classic by Elena García Méndez Driving Crazy 162 A full chapter excerpt from Randy D Pearson’s book Doyburger 180 Dancing Into the Record Books and for Child’s Play The Classic Gaming Community by Rob Maerz cheaters, critics, skeptics, optimists, pessimists, bullies, “Community is what it's all about whiners, friends and foes. And all especially since I am also a part of these cooks bring their own special it. It is very important to me to ingredients like kindness, anger, uphold high standards for this love, hatred, envy and jealousy – a recipe for heartburn. community and cultivate a Liz “Kitty McScratch” community that I, too, would have Unfortunately, the volume level of Bolinger, the world’s most wanted to be a part of if I hadn't the negative is higher than the prolific dancing game player, will been the one who created it,” Mike volume of positive. After all, they be dancing her way into the Kennedy, founder of say if the 6 o’clock news was all Guinness Book of World GameGavel.com, responded in a about good news than nobody Records while raising money 2009 interview to my inquiry of would watch it. for Child’s Play. She will be what “community” means to him. playing Dance Central 2 on the It is easy to discourage and not so Xbox 360 Kinect for 24 The classic gaming community, as easy to encourage. consecutive hours at the a whole, is made up of several Encouragement is not “on” by Green Street Hall Mall in niche communities. Some people default and to support someone or Ottumwa, Iowa beginning are members of one while others something requires effort. And to March 3, 2012. may be active in two, more or all put forth an effort doesn’t always groups. For example, you have the translate into giving someone your “The venue will be open the classic console gaming money. As a matter of fact, you whole time that I’m going for the community, the arcade gaming can do what you do best to raise record so people can come community, the pinball community money for someone less fortunate. whenever they want even if it’s and the arcade video game three in the morning,” Bolinger collector community – there may A lot of people were on the said in a telephone interview. be others but those are examples sidelines when issue 1 of this “We’re going to have other of the bigger groups. magazine was being constructed. consoles setup so people can Conversely, there have been play games when they’re there Furthermore, you’ll find cliques others who have been of and we’re going to be streaming inside the arcade gaming tremendous support at the onset the record attempt as well.” community and inner circles are and without them this venture created to wage wars in the name would still be crawling. “It definitely makes it more fun of discrediting opposing world to have a charity involved when record scores. And when they This issue of Retrocade Magazine you do these types of events,” have spare time, they’ll refer to the is the result of the collaboration of explained Bolinger. “Child’s Play console gaming community as an International community. raises money to get games and “losers” because it is their belief Hopefully, you’ll enjoy it as much toys for kids that are in that console gamers are socially as I do and it is a testament of hospitals. It’s really cool and it’s inept. Furthermore, their what community can do when they something that benefits children perception is that console gamers are constructive and not in hospitals all around the sit on their couch half-naked destructive. L world.” drinking Red Bulls and playing Superman on the Atari 2600. You can donate directly to Child’s Play through the ChipIn! The classic gaming community is a widget on Bolinger’s web site at melting pot of winners, losers, KittyMcScratch.com. 6 Retrocade Magazine Retro Ad Ed: We just report the facts. Twin I'm about to purchase the digial Galaxies stands to benefit from our copy of "Issue #1". I am extremely feedback if they so desire to take it interested in a PRINT version of into consideration. this magazine, and will be happy to subscribe to either a print R’cade Mag Print (preferred) or a digital version of this publication! Dear Retrocade Magazine, Thank you, Twin Galaxies The first issue was a fantastic read. Scoreboards, reviews, event Greg D. Dear Retrocade, coverage, retro adverts - you've covered it all. My only I normally would not write in to a disappointment is that it is not How do you order the Print magazine but I just have to say available as an actual paper Version? I am very excited about that, although I enjoyed your first magazine. Maybe its my age but this magazine. edition, I couldn’t help but notice it probably I'm your target audience appears a bit “anti-Twin Galaxies”. and I far prefer to read printed Nick I don’t know if that was your material. Any chance of this intention, or that of your writing happening for future issues? staff but the feeling is definitely there. Not that I care either way Keep the good work up! Print it! I'd buy a yearly but I would think with a first edition subscription! the last thing you would want to do S. Jones, is step on the toes of a group of Wales, UK Donny W. people who have done a great deal for the industry. I'm from Australia, and I have Please let me know when the print Anyway, great magazine. I look purchased the digital version of the mag is for sale. I will buy it for forward to the next issue. magazine. I'm loving it, and would sure!!! Heywood J. love a printed copy to add my Tom M. Escondido, CA collection and to be able to read anywhere. I'm wondering if a printed version is available, and how much it would be for a copy of Ed: We hear each and every one Two of your articles in the issue 1 and issue 2 if it’s going to of you. A print edition is at the premiere issue seem to be be released soon forefront of our priorities. Stay questioning the integrity of the tuned and thank you much for the Twin Galaxies scoreboard. Are you Thank you support! guys going to be TG bashers or what? Hunter M. Jacob S. Glen Burnie, MD Send your questions, comments and concerns to Retrocade Magazine and we’ll address them in the next issue: [email protected] Don’t worry we won’t publish your email address! 8 Retrocade Magazine The King of 3, George Riley, has been tearing it up! Here are George’s notable Donkey Kong 3 scores We Goofed! since he purchased his arcade cabinet on May 21, 2010 (all scores are arcade and marathon settings unless noted): May 22, 2010 520,300 New World Record (Tournament Settings) May 27, 2010 2,294,600 AtariAge Memorial Day Tournament May 28, 2010 2,514,900 Well, it happens to the best of us: we managed to AtariAge Memorial Day Tournament publish the incorrect link to our forums. May 28, 2010 2,781,100 AtariAge Memorial Day Tournament (New World Record) The correct URL is: June 9, 2010 3,087,100 RetrocadeMagazine.com/forums.htm New World Record June 10, 2010 857,200 New World Record (Tournament Settings) October 24, 2010 2,409,800 AtariAge Halloween Tournament May 28, 2011 3,676,000 New World Record (MAME) June 3, 2011 3,538,000 Northwest Pinball and Gameroom Show in Seattle, WA (New World Record) On January 2, 2012, Rob Maerz made history by June 17, 2011 3,417,900 becoming the first player to score over 1 million AtariAge Flag Day Tournament points on Star Castle for the Vectrex.